2013 WAC Coach of the Year Peter Turner heads into his eighth season as head softball coach at San Jose State University in 2014.

In his first seven seasons, Turner has a 191-203 record, placing him second all-time in coaching wins at San Jose State. He led his 2013 club to the first conference tournament and regular season championships in San Jose State history, and is one of two San Jose State coaches to lead his or her team to the NCAA Regionals after piloting the 2013 Spartans to the program’s third postseason appearance.

Turner’s 2013 club was the most successful in San Jose State history. The most improved NCAA postseason team since 2011 in wins and RPI, the Spartans won both the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Regular Season and Tournament championships. The team set the school records for wins (43), fewest losses (17), saves (17), fewest errors (56) and fewest stolen bases against (22). Additionally, two Spartans eclipsed seven single-season records (Markesha Collins – highest slugging percentage, highest on-base percentage, walks; Amanda Pridmore - most strikeouts in a seven-inning game, wins, saves, strikeouts) and five career records (Markesha Collins – walks; Amanda Pridmore – most strikeouts in a seven-inning game, wins, saves, strikeouts).

The Spartans were duly honored for their accomplishments throughout the 2013 season. Alongside Turner’s WAC Coach of the Year nod, Amanda Pridmore was the first WAC Pitcher of the Year in San Jose State history, as well as the WAC Tournament Most Valuable Player. She was also the program’s first NFCA Division I All-Pacific Region honoree since 2005. Four Spartans were All-WAC performers, eight Spartans received WAC Player of the Week nods, and two Spartans were All-WAC Tournament Team honorees.

Since his inaugural season in 2007, Turner has produced 11 All-WAC performers. Academically, his student-athletes have received Academic All-WAC distinction 35 times and one CoSIDA Academic All-District 8 honor. In addition to their commitment to academics, Turner’s teams pride themselves on giving back to the community. The 2013 Spartans won San Jose State’s Community Service Award for completing more than 450 hours of community service projects.

Turner came to San Jose State after spending four seasons, 2003-06, as the head women's softball coach at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton, Calif. While coaching the Mustangs, he compiled a 99-30 coaching record. His 2005 team won the Big 8 Conference Championship and finished fourth in the state tournament. In 2006, the Mustangs took fifth place in the state.

Turner is also an accomplished coach for the USA Softball Men's National Team. His clubs earned a berth in the 2009 ISF Men's World Championships, finished as runners-up at the 2007 ISF World Cup in Prague, Czech Republic, finished fourth at the 2006 VII Pan American Men's Softball Qualifier and, at the Pan American Games, Turner coached the 2003 team to a silver medal and the 2002 team to a gold medal.

A 10-time American Softball Association (ASA) All-American as a player, Turner played in 13 ASA National Championships, five U.S. Olympic Festivals and was part of the 1995 silver medalist team at the Pan American Games.

Turner has been inducted in to two halls of fame. In 2007, he was inducted in to the ASA National Softball Hall of Fame and in 1998, he was inducted in to the Stockton Softball Hall of Fame. 

He played baseball at Pacific before transferring to Sacramento State, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in social science from Sacramento State in 1989. Turner received a Master of Science degree in business administration from Hamilton University in 1999.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

2013 WAC Softball Coach of the Year

Head coach of USA Softball Men's National Team

Member of the ASA National Softball Hall of Fame

Member of the Stockton Softball Hall of Fame

Coached the 2006 USA Softball Men's National Team to a birth in the 2009 ISF Men's World Championship

Coached the USA Softball Men's National Team to a silver medal in the 2003 Pan Am Games

Coached the USA Softball Men's National Team to a gold medal in the 2002 Pan Am Games qualifier

10-time ASA All-America selection

Participated in five US Olympic Festivals and was a member of the 1995 Pan Am Games silver medal

Played in 13 ASA national championships